GMA USING HAWAII RULING IN VERMONT SUIT: The food industry is pointing to a recent ruling in a federal court in Hawaii to block a consumer advocacy group from helping in the defense of Vermont’s new GMO labeling law.

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U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren ruled in Hawai’i Floriculture and Nursery Association, et al., v. County of Hawai’i, on Aug. 22, that the Center for Food Safety and several residents of Kauai Island do not have an interest in a suit filed in relation to the county government’s decision to enforce a ban on GE crops. Just a few days later — on Aug. 28 — GMA filed a notice of supplemental authority in the federal Vermont court where its suit — GMA, et al., v. Sorrell — against the state’s GMO labeling law is pending, arguing: “CFS had failed to rebut the presumption of adequate representation by the government, and that amicus status would provide CFS sufficient means to express its views.”

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Morning Ag, where this list of possible desserts from each state is spurring some serious hunger and sweet-tooth pangs: http://bit.ly/1vKoOxh. That being said, while gooey butter cake (Missouri) and fried pie (Oklahoma) sound delicious, it’s a tall order to top Maryland’s Smith Island Cake. You know the deal: thoughts, news, tips, fellow Smith Island Cake fans (no really, do yourself a favor: http://bit.ly/1ui4eS2)? Send them to jhopkinson@politico.com or @ jennyhops. Follow us @ Morning_Ag and @ POLITICOPro.

CHOBANI LANDS FORMER OBAMA ADVISER: Robert Post, a former nutrition adviser to first lady Michelle Obama who collaborated on the Let’s Move! campaign, is headed to Chobani to serve as its new senior director for nutrition and regulatory affairs, according to a statement from the New York yogurt company. Post, a 30-year food and nutrition policy expert, served most recently as chief science officer of FoodMinds, a food and nutrition consultancy. He also previously worked as the acting head of the Agriculture Department’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, where he is credited for directing the evolution of the food pyramid to the next generation MyPlate initiative.

“Dr. Post will be responsible for driving Chobani’s nutrition strategies around the brand’s current and future offerings, and will help the company navigate critical nutrition issues with sound nutrition science and expert communication,” according to the statement.

NOVAK TO LEAD CORN GROWERS: The National Corn Growers Association has tapped Chris Novak, who has led the National Pork Board since 2008, to serve as its new chief executive officer. Novak’s first day at NCGA is slated for Oct. 13. He replaces Rick Tolman, who announced his retirement in March with plans to build a home in Utah. It won’t be Novak’s first foray into corn. From 2004 to 2008 he served as the executive director of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Corn Growers Association.

MCCARTHY: RFS NUMBERS WILL GO UP: EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy reiterated Tuesday that the long-awaited 2014 final Renewable Fuel Standard will set the volume requirements for ethanol at a higher level than detailed in the proposed rule issued late last year. Speaking at a Barclays CEO Energy-Power Conference luncheon in New York City, McCarthy said:

“You'll see the numbers will say… if gasoline sales go up, there is a chance for more renewables to get into the system.” Gasoline sales have been higher than anticipated, a fact that will be reflected in the rule, she said. More on McCarthy’s comments here: http://politico.pro/1qYxVnb

In case you missed it, the 2014 RFS was sent over to the White House Office of Management and Budget Aug. 22, kicking off the final waiting game for its release. The proposed rule, issued November 2013, drew the ire of corn producers and corn-state lawmakers as it sought to cut the standard for the amount of ethanol required to be blended into fuels to 2012 levels. Gas companies and livestock producers, to name a few, backed the reduction, however, arguing that there is more ethanol being produced than can be blended into fuel and that the RFS is artificially increasing corn prices.

USDA TO RANCHERS: HURRY UP: The USDA is warning that ranchers who are eligible to get payments under the disaster assistance programs approved in the 2014 farm bill should act soon to sign up for them or they will see the government take a bite out of the aid after Oct. 1. That’s because the sequester cuts will kick in and reduce the amount ranchers will get by 7.3 percent.

Ranchers hoping to get aid from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program — for ranchers who lost livestock or profits due to the scarcity and high prices for forage feed — only need to lock in an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency office by Oct. 1 to avoid a smaller government check. But those who lost livestock due to blizzards or other natural disasters and are qualified to get money under the Livestock Indemnity Program need to fully complete the application by Oct. 1. See the full USDA announcement here: http://bit.ly/W8fXX8

FOOD BABE TAKES AIM AT STARBUCKS: Pumpkin spice latte lover’s beware: Vani Hari, the blogger known as ‘Food Babe’ is after the seasonal treat and Starbucks in general. Hari is asking Starbucks to remove caramel coloring from the pumpkin flavoring, something the company is reportedly considering after pressure on social media. But the blogger has several other demands, too, including that the chain serve organic milk, post ingredients online, remove carrageenan from soy milk and inform customers of its changes.

In a post yesterday, partially titled, “Wake Up and Smell the Chemicals!” Hari notes how her recent “investigation” into the global coffee chain went viral and attracted widespread media attention, from USA Today to an appearance on Fox & Friends. The post can be found here: http://bit.ly/Z61WLg

UNILEVER TO HALT MACERATION OF MALE CHICKS: The world’s third-largest consumer goods company plans Tuesday to force its egg suppliers to develop alternatives to the practice of “maceration” used by some breeders of egg-laying hens. The announcement by Unilever was applauded by the Humane Society of the United States, whose president, Wayne Pacelle, described maceration in a blog as the process by which breeders engage in “the mass killing of male chicks” because they are incapable of laying eggs.

To stop the practice, Unilever — which counts Hellman’s mayonnaise as well as Ben & Jerry’s ice cream among its products — says it will offer financial support to develop technology that will prevent unwanted male chicks from hatching, while replacing some of its egg ingredients with plant-based ingredients. Unilever’s announcement can be read here: http://bit.ly/1vL0CLg Pacelle’s blog about the development can be read here: http://bit.ly/1rilUwN

ASPCA SURVEY SHOWS CONSUMERS PREFERENCE: A survey released by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shows that 80 percent of chicken consumers feel it’s important that the chicken they eat is raised humanely. That same survey found that less than one-third of respondents trust the companies that make chicken products. The survey reportedly was conducted via phone by Edge Research, Inc., and sampled 1,009 adults. Its release comes in the midst of National Chicken Month. The survey results can be read here: http://politico.pro/Y9CDrr

MA’s INSTANT OATS

-- San Francisco is set to be the first city in the country to offer financial incentives for urban farming, the San Francisco Chronicle reports: http://bit.ly/1lusBLA

-- The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal details the tensions between an area hog slaughter plant and the residents of the gentrifying neighborhood nearby: http://cjky.it/W7GXpc

-- Iowa farmer Chris Soules will be the next bachelor on ABC’s The Bachelor, which will start in January: http://abc.tv/VVYalq

Authors:

About The Author

Before joining POLITICO, she spent three years at Inside Washington Publishers reporting on the EPA with a focus on chemicals policy, pesticides and water issues. Prior to that, Hopkinson was a reporter for The (Salisbury, Md.) Daily Times where she followed local governments as they tackled falling tax revenues and stagnating rural development, in addition to playing almost every mini-golf course in Ocean City, Md., in the name of a feature story.

Hopkinson earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Maryland. She lives in Washington, D.C.